With Marleau probably gone next year, and Hainsey definitely gone, can't imagine why we can't have both.
Even if you could successfully argue that Dermott is better, you won't be successful in saying that Gardiner is any less that a #3 on the defensive depth chart. With questionable defensive strength, how does it make sense losing #3? If Gardiner costs $6MM, does it make sense that Zaitsev...who is paid $1.5MM less, stays on the team? I'm not slamming Zaits but I put Gardiner's value right now at more than $1.5mm higherGardiner is gone, and hopefully at the trade deadline. Hoping that Dermott shows he can replace him as the #2 LHD behind Reilly. Dermott might not have Gards' offensive upside, but he is already better at playing defence.
Sorry if Marleau disturbs your Leafs lineup next year. Marleau isn't waiving his NMC or retiring next summer when he has one last change at a Cup. Leafs fans should stop this unwarranted fantasy that Marleau and his cap vanishes.
Marleau goes. He is starting to show his age. That will free up $6.25M.Marleau goes... somehow, along with the worst of brown/kap. With these changes, everything barely fits.
What a disaster of a contract. He wasn't worth $6.5mm in his first year, let alone how he's playing now, let alone how he's going to degrade further next year. He is absolutely getting buried out there, despite extremely favourable deployments.
He also has value as a depth C, as we saw a few times last season, Babs trusts him at C ahead of Nylander. He can skate, and he is mostly defensively responsible player. Never misses a game, brings 110% work ethic every night, sets a strong example for the younger players. He adds a ton of value to the team.But he's not a disaster contract. He scored 27 goals and is dependable winger, so 6.25m is good contract. Now you can certainly argue that the Leafs could've been spent elsewhere, like on a Dman. But some Leaf fans hoping his cap is going is disappear is unwarranted wishful thinking.
I think both will be staying, but feel of the two Jake is the one most likely to not be resigned to make everything fit.
Jake is what he is, and better than people give him credit for around here. I really like him as a person and feel he is a core member of the group. I think the Leafs want to keep him; if they can make it fit is another thing.
Nylander will be here for 6+ years unless they continue going full ****** with the hold out.
Going with neither.
Not sure why everyone thinks we can’t have both. I guess if you assume Matthews is at $12.5M and Marner is at $10M and Nylander is at $8M then yeah, hard to make that work.
Reality is Matthews $11M, Marner $<$8M, Nylander < $7M.
RFA years always lower the AAV. And Nylander’s AAV will be less based on the proration of his AAV for this season when he does eventually sign.